A number of conservative members of the South Carolina GOP want to make sure that members of the party have a stronger says in picking Republican candidates. To that end the Greenville County Republican Party along with the State GOP filed suit in U.S. District Court in Greenville last Wednesday seeking to overturn laws that prevent political parties in the state from holding primaries in which only people registered for that party can vote. Greenville County GOP Chair Patrick Haddon says the move would prohibit Democrats from having a hand in picking republican candidates.

Haddon says the suit will have no effect on Tuesday’s primary elections, as it seeks only to change the way future primaries are conducted. Haddon says there is not set timetable for the court ot make a decision. he says the process could last a year or so. Haddon says a court decision in favor of his party lawsuit would only strike down the existing laws.

Haddon says the lawsuit also challenges the state law that requires that political parties who choose candidates by convention rather than by primary, must have 3/4 majority membership at the convention to nominate candidates, and he says that makes the convention process prohibitively difficult. The suit says other entities, like corporations and non-profits, only have to have a majority to conduct business. Haddon asks why should political parties be held to a higher standard.  Haddon says he feels that a number of GOP members don’t want the laws struck down.

Greenville County GOP Chair Haddon on suit as attractive to Tea Party members 1:49